Liquid dispensing valve



Dec. 24, 1968 w. R. FUERST 3,417,962

LIQUID DISPENSING VALVE I v Filed Dec. 16, 1965 ZSheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. mum/w 1?. fbae r W w MWORNEYS Dec. 24, 1968 w. R. FUERST3,417,962

LIQUID DISPENSING VALVE Filed Dec. 1'5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.M/ML/AM 1e. FZ/EksT MA W l m ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,417,962LIQUID DISPENSING VALVE William R. Fuerst, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor toThe Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, 111., a corporation of IllinoisFiled Dec. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 514,182 Claims. (Cl. 251-262) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A liquid dispensing valve having a valve head and anintegrally formed sleeve and having a valve push-rod inserted interiallyof the sleeve against the valve head and moved in a reciprocating motion.by an operator handle. Movement of the handle causes the rod to bedepressed thereby extending the resilient sleeve and opening the valvehead. Restoring the position of the handle releases the push-rod andallows the resilient sleeve to urge the valve head into a closedposition.

This invention relates to a liquid dispensing valve and in particular toa dispensing valve having a valve head and an integrally formed biasingmeans for maintaining the valve in a closed position and for providing aclosing force during operation of the valve head.

Increasing the availability of beverage dispensers to increasing numbersof users has demanded both a reduction in cost and an improvement indurability. These factors, in turn, have required reducing the number ofoperating parts, removing the operating parts from the influence of thedispensed fluid and using non-metallic operating parts whereverpossible.

It is apparent that minimizing the number of operating parts reduces thecost of both manufacture and maintenance. Also, by removing operatingparts from the influence of the dispensed fluid, repairs necessitated bythe deterioration and the clogging of the cooperable members may beeliminated. In addition, metallic parts used in a beverage dispensingvalve must be of a high quality and, therefore, of a comparatively highcost to avoid contamination of the fluid or deterioration of themetallic elements.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide aliquid dispensing valve which has reduced cost and maintenancerequirements and which has a minimum number of operating parts.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a liquid dispensingvalve having the operating members removed from contact with thedispensed fluid.

It is another object of this invention to provide a liquid dispensingvalve having a resilient but non-metallic biasing member for developinga closing force on the valve head.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a molded rubbersleeve having an integrally formed valve head and a mounting flangedisposed at opposite ends thereof and having a cylindrical wall portionfor exerting a restoring force on the integral valve head.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be understood in greater detail from the followingdescription and the associated drawings wherein reference numerals areutilized in designating a preferred embodiment and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a liquid dispensing valve according tothis invention as mounted within a concave wall portion of a pressurizedliquid container;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the molded rubber sleeve of thisinvention as employed within the liquid dispensing valve of FIGURE 1;

1 FIGURE 3 is an end view of the molded rubber sleeve as shown in FIGURE2;

FIGURE 4 is an alternate form of the dispenser valve shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing an alternate rubbersleeve as used in the valve of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the sleeve of FIGURE 5.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown generally in FIGURE 1as comprising a valve body 10 mounted within a concave wall 11 of apressurized liquid container 12. The valve head of this invention isformed integrally with a cylindrical sleeve which is prestretched duringassembly and which provides a continuous restoring force for the valvehead. The cylindrical rubber sleeve also provides a shield for anactuating pin and, at the same time, acts as a seal for the valve body10.

The valve body 10 is mounted within the pressurized container 12 at anopening 13 formed substantially centrally of the concave wall portion11. The mounting is accomplished through the provision for a radiallyextending ridge 14 formed rearwardly of the valve body 10 and acylindrical lip 15 formed forwardly thereof. The lip 15 is maintainedcontiguous with the inner surface 16 of the concave wall 11 while thecylindrical lip 15 is reformed by the application of heat to grasp theouter surface of the wall 11. An O-ring 17 is provided in the usualmanner to maintain a pressure seal for the mounting of the valve body 10within the opening 13 of the wall 11.

The valve body itself has an inlet section 18 secured by suitable meansat a point 19 of the valve body. The inlet section 18 is provided withan inlet passageway 20 which connects to an annular valve chamber 21formed at the rear of the main body section.

The annular valve chamber 21 is connected directly to an actuationchamber 22 formed axially thereof and which is provided with anactuation opening 23 formed forwardly of the valve assembly. Also, anoutlet spout 24 is formed integrally with the valve body 10 and has anoutlet passageway 25 conducting from the actuation chamber 22. It isapparent, therefore, that in the absence of a valve member, fluid willflow continuously from the inlet passageway 20 through the valve andactuation chambers 21 and 22, respectively, to the outlet passageway 25.

The valve member of this invention consists of a molded rubber sleeve 26which is disposed within the actuation chamber 22 for providing thecompelte control function to regulate the flow of fluid from the inlet20 to the outlet 25.

Essentially, the molded rubber sleeve 26 comprises a cylindrical wallportion 27 and an integral valve head 28. In addition, the rubber sleeve26 is provided with a mounting flange 29 extending radially outwardlyfrom the cylindrical wall portion 27.

The molded rubber sleeve 26 is mounted within the actuation chamber 22through the tensioning or stretching of the cylindrical wall portion 27between two oppositely facing surfaces. First, the end wall surface 30of the annular valve chamber 21 faces inwardly of the tank 12 andprovides a surface for grasping a tapered wall section 31 of theresilient valve head 28. Second, the valve body 10, and, in particular,the actuation chamber 22 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 32having an outer surface 33 for engaging the inner surface 34 of themounting flange 29. Therefore, the valve head 28 and the mounting flange29 disposed about the surfaces 30 and 33 of the valve body provide ameans for stretching the cylindrical wall portion 27 within theactuation chamber 22.

The tensioning or stretching of the cylindrical wall portion 27 of therubber sleeve 26 biases the resilient valve head 28 against a valve seat35 formed at the end wall 30 about the junction of the chambers 21 and22. This bias is accomplished by providing the cylindrical portion 27 tohave relatively thin Wall segments, while providing the valve head 28 tobe formed of substantially thick mass of the resilient material. In thisway, the wall portion 27 is made substantially elastic for performingthe biasing function and the resilient valve head 28 is provided to besubstantially rigid to maintain a firm engagement with the valve seat35.

The molded rubber sleeve 26 not only provides a valve head and a biasingmeans for closing the valve seat but also maintains a pressurized sealfor the actuation chamber 22. This seal is accomplished about theinwardly directed flange 32 and is found in the pressurizing contactbetween the surfaces 33 and 34 of the ridge 32 and the mounting flange29. Therefore, the same force which biases the valve head 28 in a closedposition against the valve seat 35 also maintains the mounting flange 29in firm engagement with the outer surface 33 of the flange 32.

The valve head 28 of the rubber sleeve 26 is operated by a rigid pin 36which is disposed within a hollow chamber 37 formed centrally of thecylindrical wall portion 27. The valve stem 36 consists of a shaft 38and radially enlarged collars 39 and 40. The collar 39 is formed at theinnermost extremity of the shaft 38 and provides an enlarged bluntsurface 41 for contacting the inner surface 42 of the valve head 28. Thecollar 39 also has a rounded face 43 for contacting the inner surface 44of the hollow region 37. Likewise, the collar is provided with a roundedface 45 for contacting the inner surface 44 of the hollow region 37. Therounded surfaces 43 and 45 of the collars 39 and 40 therefore provideminimum sliding contact with the rubber sleeve 26. In this way, theshaft 38 may be depressed for operating the valve head 28 of the valveseat 35 with a minimum of friction or drag. The result is asignificantly reduced wear at the inner surface 44 and a reduced effortof operation.

To depress the shaft 38, the valve stem 36 is provided with a roundedhead 46 extending outwardly of the outermost surface of the mountingflange 29 and provides the degree of movement of the shaft 38 anddetermines the amount of lift rendered to the valve head 28.

Actuation of the valve stem 29 is accomplished by means of a handle orlever 47 which is pivotally mounted at a point 48 on a bracket 49extending from the valve body 10. The handle 47 is provided with aconvex surface 5!) for contacting the rounded surface 46 of the valvestem 36. As the handle 47 is rotated clockwise in FIGURE 1, the roundedsurface 50 is reorientated for depressing the valve stem 36 through asliding motion with the head 46 of the shaft 38.

Motion of the handle 47 is limited by guide stops which are formed onthe valve assembly and the handle respectively. In particular, a planesurface 51 is formed at the upper region of the spout 24 for contactinga similar surface 52 of a boss 53 extending downwardly from the convexsurface '50 of the handle 47. Also, a notch 54 is formed within thebracket 49 and a tab 55 is formed integrally with the handle 47 forbeing carried within the limits provided by the notch 54 which is wellunderstood.

It may be noted that the restoring force of the rubberlike sleeve 26acts through the rounded face 46 of the valve stem 36 on the convexsurface 50 of the handle 47.

Therefore, the integral rubber sleeve 26 not only restores the closedposition of the valve head 35 but also restores a favorable position forthe handle 47 as shown in FIGURE 1.

An alternate form of the liquid dispensing valve of this invention isillustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6.

In FIGURE 4, a valve structure 10 is similar to the structure of thevalve shown in FIGURE 1, and likewise many of the elements of the valveunit in FIGURE 4 are identical to elements shown in FIGURE 1, andtherefore reference numerals have been carried forward from FIGURE 1 t0FIGURE 4.-

However, the valve of FIGURE 4 is provided with an inlet restrictor 60which consists of an elongated tapered tube 61 for extending from thevalve 10 into the liquid within the tank or drum 11. The slender tube 61has an inlet pasageway 62 which is tapered from a point 63 to a point 64forming the entrance to an inlet chamber 65.

The inlet chamber 65 is semi-spherical and the tubing portion 66,forming the inlet chamber 65, is connected to the main valve body at agroove 67.

The inlet restrictor 60 performs two important functions: first, thenarrow pasageway 62 limits the rate of flow of fluid from the container11 through the spout 24. Therefore, the passageway 62 can be properlysized to allow a desirable flow of fluid from the container 11 when thevalve is held in a fully opened position. This avoids the possibility ofhigh pressure at the spout 24 which would be undesirable for filling aglass or other similar vessel. The second important function performedby the restrictor passageway 62 is to reduce or substantially eliminatethe foaming of the fluid stored Within the container 11. Since thecontainer 11 is pressure-tight, and since the contents of the containermay be under a gas pressure such as the pressure of carbon dioxide, thefluid will tend to foam if suddenly introduced to a low pressure region.Therefore, the restrictor passageway 62 provides a means for graduallyreducing the pressure on the fluid for avoiding the stimulation of foamthat could otherwise 'be expected.

In FIGURE 4, the valve seat of the valve 10, indicated by referencenumeral 68, is sloped relative to the actuation chamber 22. This slopedorientation allows the seating of a bulbous-type valve head 69associated with the rubber sleeve 26. The valve head 69 being sphericalin shape conforms substantially to the configuration of the portion 66of the inlet restrictor 60'. This configuration allows the smooth flowof fluid through the restrictor pasageway 62 and around the bulbousvalve head 69 in such a manner as to avoid the introduction of abruptflat surfaces into the path of the flow. Once again, the purpose of thisstructure is to reduce foaming which tends to occur in the fluid uponcontacting an abrupt surface at a relatively high velocity. Therefore,the configuration of FIGURE 4 may be more suited to certain effervescenttype fluids than the configuration of FIGURE 1.

It will be understood that various modifications may be suggested by theembodiment disclosed, but I desire to claim within the scope of thepatent warranted hereon all such modifications as come within the scopeof my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A liquid dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body having a valve chamber formed therein,

said valve chamber having an inlet leading thereto and an outletconducting therefrom,

a valve seat formed within said valve body intermediate said inlet andsaid outlet,

a rubber-like sleeve mounted within said valve body at one end andhaving a valve head formed at the opposite end thereof,

said valve head being cooperable with said valve seat for controllingthe flow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet,

said rubber-like sleeve being pre-stretched for biasing said valve headinto a closed position, and

means for operating said valve head relative to said valve seat.

2. A liquid dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body having an inlet chamberand a connecting valve chamberformed therein,

said inlet chamber having an inlet leading thereinto and said valvechamber having an outlet conducting therefrom,

said inlet chamber having an end wall extending radially outwardly ofsaid connecting valve chamber,

a valve seat formed at said end wall about said valve chamber,

an actuation opening formed within said valve body axially of said valveseat,

a molded rubber-like sleeve having a radially enlarged valve head formedat a first end and a radially enlarged mounting flange formed at asecond end,

said rubber-like sleeve disposed within said chamber and having saidradially enlarged valve head extending within said inlet chamber forbeing cooperable with said valve seat at said end wall,

said rubber-like sleeve having said second end thereof extending throughsaid actuation opening and having said mounting flange extendingexteriorly of said valve body at said actuation opening,

said rubber-like sleeve being stretched between said end wall and theexterior of said valve body at said actuation opening for biasing saidvalve head in a closed position, and

means for opening said valve head against the biasing force of saidrubber-like sleeve.

3. A liquid dispensing valve as described in claim 2 wherein said moldedrubber-like sleeve is provided with a hollow-cylindrical chamber havingan opening centrally of said mounting flange and extendinglongitudinally to said valve head, and wherein means are provided toextend within said hollow chamber for lifting said valve head off saidvalve seat against the biasing force of said rubber-like sleeve.

4. In a liquid dispensing valve having a valve body, an inlet andoutlet, and a cylindrical chamber interconnecting the inlet to theoutlet, a rubber-like sleeve comprising:

a cylindrical wall portion having a resilient boss formed integrally atone end thereof and a mounting flange formed at a second end,

said resilient boss and said mountmg flange extending radially outwardlyof said cylindrical wall portion for overlying outwardly facing endwalls of a cylindrical chamber and for stretching said cylindrical wallportion therebetween,

said rubber-like sleeve having a hollow center and receiving a valvestem thereinto for urging said resilient boss off an overlying positionat an end wall of a cylindrical chamber and for further stretching saidcylindrical wall portion thereby.

5. A valve body having an inlet,

a valve chamber conducting from said inlet,

a radially reduced actuation chamber formed axially of said valvechamber and leading therefrom,

an actuation opening formed axially of said actuation chamber,

an outlet conducting from said actuation chamber,

a valve seat formed within said valve chamber about the junction of saidvalve and actuation chambers,

a mounting surface formed exteriorly of said valve body about saidactuation opening,

a rubber-like sleeve having a cylindrical wall portion,

a radially enlarged valve head formed at a first end thereof and aradially enlarged mounting flange formed at a second end,

said rubber-like sleeve disposed within said actuation chamber with saidvalve head disposed within said valve chamber at said valve seat andsaid mounting flange disposed exteriorly of said valve body at saidmounting surface, said cylindrical wall portion being prestretched bysaid disposition of said valve head and said mounting flange,

means coacting with said rubber-like sleeve for urging said valve headoff said valve seat and for allowing a flow of fluid from said inletthrough said valve chamber and actuation chamber to said outlet.

6. A valve body as described in claim 5 wherein said means coacting withsaid rubber-like sleeve to open said valve head comprises:

a valve stem inserted interiorly of said sleeve for being contiguouswith the inner surface of said valve head, and

means mounted on said valve body for depressing said valve stem andthereby controlling the flow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet.

7. A liquid dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body having an inlet, an outlet and an interconnecting passagebetween said inlet and said outlet,

a valve seat formed within said passage and an actuation opening formedwithin said valve body,

a rubber-like sleeve having an integral valve head and mounting flangeformed at opposite ends thereof,

said valve head disposed at said valve seat and said mounting flangedisposed about said actuation opening, said rubber-like sleeve beingpre-stretched between said valve seat and said actuation opening andbiasing said valve head into a closed position at said valve seat andurging said mounting flange for providing a pressure seal about saidactuation opening,

means extending within said actuation opening for operating said valvehead relative to said valve seat.

8. A liquid dispensing valve comprising:

a valve body having an inlet, an outlet and an interconnecting passagebetween said inlet and said outlet,

a valve seat formed within said passage and an actuation opening formedwithin said valve body.

a rubber-like sleeve having an integral valve head and mounting flangeformed at opposite ends thereof.

said valve head disposed at said valve seat and said mounting flangedisposed about said actuation opening,

said rubber-like sleeve being pre-stretched between said valve seat andsaid actuation opena,

a valve stem inserted interiorly of said sleeve and having a radiallyenlarged collar formed thereon for maintaining said stem in spacedrelation with the inner surface of said sleeve, means for actuating saidvalve stem.

9. A liquid dispensing valve as described in claim 1 wherein said valvehead of said rubber-like sleeve is bulbous-shaped to permit the smoothflow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet, whereby foaming of highlyeffervescent fluids can be substantially eliminated.

10. A liquid dispensing valve as described in claim 5 wherein an inletrestrictor is provided to conduct fluid from a fluid source,

said inlet restrictor having a gradually tapered Wall portion and asubstantially semi-spherical chamber portion; and

said valve head being bulbous-shaped and being cooperable within saidsemi-spherical chamber for pro- Viding a smooth fluid flow to saidoutlet.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSFOREIGN PATENTS 70,600 12/1958 France. 823,752 11/1959 Great Britain.

Heeter et a1 222-518 X Appel et 1 222 509 X 5 ROBERT B. REEVES, PrimaryExaminer. Collins 8 X N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner.

Isserstedt 222-518 X Miller 222-518 CL Ward 222-509 x 10 222 s09, 518;251-335

